Looking at Macmohan's Top 5 movies

Looking at Macmohan's Top 5 movies

While the angry young man strived to save the world, this scrawny guy of dubious morals aided the appalling villain with his sharp gaze and indulged him with a quick response in addition to a keen smile.

Macmohan with his trademark beard, lush mane and full-sleeved attire played this man in more than a hundred films like only he could.

Despite the brevity of his roles, Macmohan made quite an impression, almost turning him into a pop culture icon of sorts.

The actor passed away on Monday after a long battle with cancer. He was 71.

Here are five of my best memories of one of Hindi cinema's beloved character actors. Rest in peace, Sambha.

Sholay

Everyone had a line in Sholay. This was his.

Ramesh Sippy's popular classic is overflowing with larger-than-life moments. One of them featured Amjad Khan's Gabbar Singh humouring his associate bandits, especially when he points out to Macmohan, perched on a tall boulder, 'Arre o Sambha, kitna inaam rakhe hain sarkar hum par?'

Pat comes the reply, 'Poore pachaas hazaar.' It's a rather matter-of-factly delivered reaction but audiences, to date, haven't gotten over it. And in all probability, never will.

Luck By Chance

In Zoya Akhtar's masterfully layered study of cinema, there's a moment when Sholay's unforgettable Sambha is invited to preside over an acting school function.

As always is the case, he is asked to render his career-best line 'Poore pachaas hazaa,'.

Unlike Atithi Tum Kab Jaoge, which featured a similar scene with Sholay's Kaalia (Viju Khote) to hilarious effect, here the impact is decidedly unfeigned. It's a spectacular touch that is both beautiful and heartbreaking.